Last week I was laughed at by my 10 year old cousins as we sat through the 90 minutes telecast of Wigan’s 4 – 0 mauling over a very sorry City side. Legally, I’d be disowned by the family should I deliver a few piledrivers and chip in some German suplexes to those kids for making fun of me. I was that disturbed, emotionally.

Then again, they had all the rights to mock me (buggers are fans of Arse, Manure and CSKA London). What gives? Just minutes after being down by a goal, that team captain heads the ball into the back of your own net. That, before the opposing team threw in two more goals with only seconds between them.

And so goes the fan’s weekly call for the manager’s head. I could only care less. All that matters is that we put the poor show at the JJB behind and set things straight against Boro; which I think we did.

Thanks to daylight savings, I had toothpicks in between my eyelids to stay awake ‘til 4am. Consequently, I spent the whole day enduring a massive headache due to lack of sleep; even after two gulps of Uphamol. But it was all worth it.

Three full points after Dunne found the correct end to score the winning goal from Barton’s corner and Dickov’s usual nuisance to the keeper. It was as straight as that. City finally had some of the more important elements they’ve been missing all these while: passion, desire, determination etc. Despite attendance at the COMS being the lowest ever, a highly-spirited City team seemed more than ready for a showdown.

Yet, I had mixed feelings about the starting XI. The fact that Reyna and Dickov was in it instead of Trabelsi and Vassell, only to come later in the second half is somehow upsetting. Though Vassell blew away two one-on-one chances toward the end of the game, I’d put him in the first XI over Dickov anyday; judging only from Vassell’s speed and size. On the other hand, a good starting debut for Beasley. Despite his size, the pace and flair he brings to the team is very refreshing. Oh, and quite a decent comeback from a more reserved Ben Thatcher. I think he did well throughout the game.

now badol, at 22? 23?, you should know that luck is a very subjective matter and as far as I can recall, the last time i made fun of another team by saying they won by sheer luck, was back in 94, when brazil beat italy to win the world cup.

i was '11' and i only said so cos i was 'supporting' italy to lift the cup. i knew 'nothing' about the technicalities of football hence i knew no other comeback when my friends mocked my prediction. u know, the "nasib je" chant...

thank God I grew up.

viduka was injured and yakubu didnt get any shots cos he was unlucky, to say the least.

beasley is on loan from psv. he jumped in the city bandwagon in the late hours of the summer's transfer window.

and i never discarded the point of luck being a part of football. true enough, they bring color to the game. cumanya ko ckp "Dude, City won the game just coz of pure luck". somehow, that translates to "city menang nasib je weh" in my book. and that reminded me of myself back in '94.